SB Nation - James White

Ridiculous Transactions: 11/9 - 11/15, Plus Trade Analysis

Jon L — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:36 -0000

by Darron Cummings - AP

The Houston Rockets said goodbye to Pops Mensah-Bonsu this week. Frowny face.

A few relatively big moves happened (in our world, at least), but before I get to those, I realized that I never discussed the D-League trades from a few weekends ago at any length, so here we go:

Fort Wayne Mad Ants traded 10 pick (Alade Aminu) to the Erie BayHawks; Erie BayHawks traded Rob Kurz to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants

At least as it stands now, before any games have been played, this looks like a pretty good trade for both sides. Fort Wayne returns Chris Hunter and Sean Sonderleiter in the middle, so as talented as Aminu is the team was already set at center. Sure, Aminu most likely would've been an upgrade over Sonderleiter, Hunter gets the bulk of the minutes there anyway, and since he's a very good D-League center the Mad Ants were able to flip their pick to address other issues. The team also has several other forwards back from last year, but they're mostly defense or rebounding specialists. Rob Kurz should allow the team to stretch the defense a little more, to use that cliche, and because I assume he's going to start, it will be interesting to see if his presence at power forward pushes Anthony Kent to the bench, or whether Kent moves over to the 3 and Ron Howard, last year's starting small forward but 6'5", heads to the backcourt. If the latter is the case, then Kurz's shooting skill will be even more of a necessity as Howard's not much of a shooter (or scorer generally, come to think of it). Fort Wayne also had been angling to get Kurz as a local allocation player because of his time at Notre Dame, so the team is hoping that bringing him in (along with other Notre Dame players) will help them at the gate as well as on the court.

For the Bayhawks, Alade Aminu seemed to be one of the most sought-after players in the draft, at least among teams looking for raw talent. Aminu didn't play a whole lot for Washington's Summer League team, though his defense was alright when he did, and the Miami Heat gave him a look during the preseason. Aminu was a bit turnover-prone in college and needs to develop some post moves (along with some strength), but he's very athletic and handles the ball fairly well for a 6'10" guy. Erie needed a center to replace the departed Erik Daniels, and as I wrote around the draft, bringing in actual centers like Aminu, John Bryant and Jeff Skemp is a step in the right direction. Erie already had some guys sort of like Kurz (Ivan Harris is a three-point shooting forward, Jarvis Gunter is an okay rebounder but doesn't do much else), so they didn't need to duplicate efforts there.

Los Angeles D-Fenders traded Earl Barron to the Iowa Energy; Iowa Energy traded Anthony Tolliver to the Idaho Stampede; Idaho Stampede traded Dar Tucker to the Los Angeles D-Fenders

I've given some brief comments on this one, but to recap, I like this trade for both Idaho and Iowa, but I'm a little baffled by what LA is doing. To elaborate, let's start with Idaho. Last year Bob MacKinnon's Colorado team liked to run, and they led the league in pace. Sure they had Joe Dabbert and Kentrell Gransberry in the middle, but each of those players' proclivity for fouling meant that Josh Davis saw a fair amount of time at center. Anthony Tolliver isn't the same player Davis is, specifically in the area of three-point shooting (Tolliver is okay but not great there), but he's a good passer, a pretty good rebounder and post defender, and he can score a little bit (in the D-League, anyway). Tolliver should be a solid anchor for the Stampede, at least for as long as he's around (he has a history of leaving the D-League either to play in Europe or the NBA).

Iowa-wise, Earl Barron is a solid center with some shot-blocking talent and NBA experience (specifically with Miami). Barron upped his per-36 minute scoring averages and lowered his foul rates every year that he played for the Heat, so he's been improving. He's 28 years old now, though, so this may be his last go-round in the D-League. The Energy drafted a lot of scorers and wing players, and while Tolliver is a good player (see above) he likely would've taken up a lot of possessions that can now be distributed a little more equally.

As for the D-Fenders, it's not that Dar Tucker isn't talented, it's just that his shot selection is shaky. He made less than 30 percent of his three-pointers last year at DePaul, which wouldn't be great even if he hadn't averaged more than six three-point attempts per game. He shot just 39 percent overall, so it's not like he was great inside the arc either. He also averaged more turnovers than assists and can't really go left. Tucker is athletic, does a decent job of getting to the rim and is a decent rebounder, but his offensive game has a lot of negatives. Plus there's the fact that he's a shooting guard, and that LA already has Joe Crawford and Charlie Parker, who are nominally point guards but are more scorers than distributor, Ryan Forehan-Kelly, who's a swingman who can do a lot of things but who also probably got accustomed to having the ball last year, Deron Washington, who's another (more efficient) slasher, and Jeremy Wise, a shooting guard. As for big men, let's see...how does Longar Longar strike you? It's entirely possible that Barron asked for this trade, but as it stands now the D-Fenders have a glut of shooting guards and/or backcourt scoring without a ton of guys who can rebound or defend the post. This team could be really fun to watch, or it could be a horrible mess.

Rio Grande Valley Vipers traded Marcus Hubbard to the Reno Bighorns; Reno Bighorns traded Haminn Quaintance to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Here's the thing about Marcus Hubbard - I make snide comments about his game, but he's a decent player. At least he could be. He certainly has his moments. He's athletic, he can rebound a little bit, he stays out of foul trouble. But, somewhere in his career (it may have been at the beginning, who knows) he started viewing himself as a mid-range/perimeter player, and he's not very good at it. He likes shooting threes, and he's about as good at it as Dar Tucker is. Now that the Rockets are running the show, he really didn't fit what they look for in a big man, so it wasn't a surprise to see him go.

Quaintance, on the other hand, does seem like a Houston-type guy. I don't know much about him, and called him a "three-point shooter" around the draft based on last year's EuroChallenge, but he's actually a power forward who was an excellent defender in college (he was MAC defensive player of the year as a senior) and gets steals blocks as well as blocks, plus he can score a little bit and passes pretty well for his position. Oh, and he's athletic. He profiles very well, so I'm curious as to why Reno gave him up. He likely wouldn't have gotten a ton of minutes behind Boom Tho Rod Benson and non-boom tho Cezary Trybanski, but he could've slid into the lineup in the event of a Benson call-up just as well as Hubbard can.

Moving on to this week's, uh, moves, after the jump...

November 10: James White - signed with Spartak SPB (Russia); Ronald Dupree - signed with Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany)

Well, White said he wasn't coming back to the D-League, so this is just a guy keeping his promise. Spartak just signed Goran Suton last week, so they have a pretty solid (American) inside-outside combo now. The question becomes whether White will come back next year for Summer League and/or the preseason, or whether he's fed up with the entire enterprise. He may cool off after a year, but if the NBA isn't going to seriously invest in him he may not see the point. Dupree goes to Telekom Baskets, also the current team of former RGV point guard Jared Jordan. He's in a similar position to White (but without the relatively-modest NBA success) in that he's ready to move on with his career. As he said in that interview I linked to yesterday, there comes a point in every player's career (the D-League/marginal NBA players anyway) where he has to seriously consider playing in Europe, essentially for the money. This was a tougher year than most for a lot of these players, but if someone has plans, or has plans to have plans, to settle into some kind of routine, live comfortably, start a family, whatever, as it stands right now the D-League/Summer League/training camp circuit just doesn't provide that.

November 12: Washington Wizards - waived Paul Davis and signed Earl Boykins

My interest in this move (other than as a Wizards fan) is to see what Davis will do. He could make a pretty good salary in Europe, and do pretty well on the court leading to future pretty good salaries, but one doesn't go on the "Millionaire Matchmaker" show and talk about how you're looking for someone to settle down with your millions of dollars if you're then planning on leaving the country. Of course, that was a while ago, and he probably wasn't planning on barely making a roster on a nonguaranteed deal, and playing in the D-League definitely isn't what people on "Millionaire Matchmaker" have in mind (I'm guessing), but I could see Davis sticking around here for a few months and using his Clippers years as a way to get another shot.

November 13: Eddie Gill - signed with Base Oostende (Belgium); Toronto Raptors - waived Quincy Douby

I don't have much to say about Douby being waived, as from my read on the situation his position on the team was already somewhat tenuous even before the team drafted DeMar DeRozan (and, hopefully, traded for Sonny Weems). He could do extremely well in Europe, obviously, but he has enough of a name that another NBA team is likely to take a shot on him at some point (hi Memphis!).

Gill, though, is sort of a big deal because he represents yet another talented, high-profile player (D-League-wise) who the Springfield Armor took in the expansion draft and who won't actually be suiting up for that team. Gill may or may not have been looking to head overseas for awhile, but his leaving right before training camp would seem to put the team in a tight spot. They may not have been counting on him being there, but they didn't really bring in any strong point guards through allocation or the draft, so one would assume that they were. Oh well. This leaves JamesOn Curry as the team's starting point guard, I'm guessing, even though Curry's not much of a distributor.

November 14: Houston Rockets - waived Pops Mensah-Bonsu and assigned Joey Dorsey to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Goodbye, Pops. You were enjoyed. I have no idea if Mensah-Bonsu will return to the D-League, as he's in a similar position to Paul Davis (but without the whole "appearing on TV" thing), and also Earl Barron. Mensah-Bonsu is younger than I thought, but 26 years old is starting to approach the "maybe I should just go to Europe" age. His national team coach Chris Finch is in the D-League now, and with the Rockets' affiliate no less, so he could wait around until they're at the top of the list and join the D-League player pool, at which point he'll do so well (he was a monster for the Toros last year) that the NBA can't keep ignoring him (again).

I also thought Dorsey was older than he is, or at least had been in the NBA long enough not to be eligible for the D-League, but that probably speaks to the fact that I need to brush up on this stuff. Even without Mensah-Bonsu in the picture, frontcourt minutes are scarce in Houston at the moment. Dorsey posted some decent numbers in RGV last year, around 10 points and nine rebounds per game (11 and 11 per-36), but his free-throw shooting was so awful it actually dragged his True Shooting percentage down a fair amount. Dorsey played well in Summer League this year, and I expect him to do very well for the Vipers. Assuming, that is, that he and Kurt Looby find a way to both play in the middle. They'll probably both start, but Vipers fans should probably get used to seeing those guys fighting each other for rebounds.

Turnover at the Top

Jon L — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:44 -0000

Chris Hunter is one of only a few of last season's D-League leaders coming back to the league.

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I've made a few oblique references this offseason to all of the D-League three-point shooters who will be playing overseas this year, and it's true that there will be some unfamiliar faces jacking up perimeter shots next month. But it's actually even more remarkable than I thought. Heres is the list of last year's D-League award winners:

MVP - Courtney Sims
Defensive POY - Brent Petway
Impact POY - Eddie Gill
Rookie of the Year - Othyus Jeffers
Coach of the Year - Quin Snyder
Sportsmanship Award - Will Conroy

Notice anything? With the exception of perhaps Sims, all of the players listed above are playing overseas (and RU's Coach of the Year pick, Bryan Gates, is in the NBA now). True, one of them could come back midseason (and be in the running for the Impact award), but those are still some relatively big names missing. It gets even more drastic than that. Here are the All D-League teams:

First: Blake Ahearn, Will Conroy, Erik Daniels, Courtney Sims, Marcus Williams

I expect Williams to join back up with the Toros, and we're still waiting to see what Sims will do, but Ahearn, Conroy and Daniels are all overseas now.

Second: Derrick Byars, Josh Davis, Chris Hunter, Trey Johnson, James White

Hunter's back in Fort Wayne, but Byars - gone; Davis - gone; Johnson - gone; White - gone.

Third: Lance Allred, Ronald Dupree, Eddie Gill, Dontell Jefferson, Cartier Martin

Jefferson is back with Utah but I would expect a call-up for him at some point this season (the defense is too good). Otherwise, they're all in Europe and elsewhere. And while I won't bother listing all of the honorable mentions, by my count less than half of them are with the D-League again this year.

So what's the point of this? Change, and lots of it. Sure it will be disappointing not to see these talented players, but I prefer to see it as a crisi-tunity. With training camps underway and the regular season starting in just two weeks, a lot of players will have a chance to make their mark on the D-League. Some of them we can probably guess - expect Marcus Williams to tear it up again until he gets called up, Garrett Siler should be one of the best big men in the league and Carlos Powell and Anthony Tolliver should both fill up the box scores. But just as likely is that we can't predict right now who's going to make those 2009-2010 All-D-League teams. It could be someone like Amara Sy, who started his career off promisingly in Europe; or Reggie Williams, who was a smart, crafty scorer in college; heck, it could even be Yaroslav Korolev (it probably won't be Yaroslav Korolev).

All this turnover at the top of the league, talent-wise, is both likely a little daunting for the league and a pretty exciting development for D-League watchers. Teams are busy right now sorting out who can play and who can't, then it will be our turn.

Waive Goodbye, Part 2

Jon L — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:42 -0000

More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP

Go ahead and smile, Derrick Byars. You made the team. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Today we continue our look at the players waived or, occasionally, kept by NBA teams as the regular season begins. Next up we move into the middle of the country, or as I like to call it, "America's already-bloated snackhole." (I can say that because I live there.) That's right, it's the Central and Southwest Divisions. (Except that I was looking at the wrong division list when I wrote this and it's actually the Northwest Division. Deal with it, America.) And if you're just tuning in, don't forget to check out part 1.

Chicago Bulls

Who got cut: Curtis Stinson, Chris Richard, Steven Hill

Who got kept: Derrick Byars

Forget Stinson and Hill, this really came down to Byars vs. Richard for the last roster spot. And with all due respect to Richard, they made the right call. Richard played okay, although he averaged less than seven points per 36 minutes, and given that the team that already sports Joakim Noah in the frontcourt they really probably can't handle yet another guy who can't produce on offense. Not that Richard unequivocally can't, he just didn't demonstrate that sort of ability in the preseason, which is when he needed to demonstrate it. Byars helps the team in case Deng gets hurt again, or if John Salmons starts creaking (he turns 30 later this year). I won't discuss Byars in great detail here, because you can read this. It probably makes up for the Bulls cutting DeMarcus Nelson, maybe. Stinson and Hill are both probably headed to Europe, though I could see Stinson sticking around the D-League.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Who got cut: Luke Nevill, Andre Barrett, Russell Robinson, Rob Kurz, Darryl Watkins

Who got kept: Coby Karl

See Marge? These guys get it. Karl actually didn't play particularly well in the preseason, but he had a pretty good Summer League with Denver, and he's definitely talented. He's a nice multi-faceted player who can shoot (and make) threes, help distribute the ball, pick up some steals and rebound a little bit. So in other words he's exactly the right kind of guard for Cleveland. He's also worked damn hard, and he deserves another shot at the NBA. It never feels good to get cut (I'm assuming), but it's probably especially hard for Rob Kurz, who was starting for the Warriors just last season. He'd definitely be a prime call-up candidate should he go to the D-League, as he's a 6'9" guy who can make threes, although he could stand to pick up his rebounding and defense. He also profiles well as a Euroleague guy, so he could end up there. Russell Robinson also could pick either option. He played pretty poorly both in Summer League and the preseason, with turnovers being the major problem. Another stint in the D-League could help that, as he averaged just two and a half per 36 minutes for Reno last season. I'll mention again that I haven't been including Jawad Williams in this discussion because he was signed at the end of last season and has a partially-guaranteed deal, so while he theoretically could be waived later on, the team has been somewhat more committed to him than these other guys. I'm somewhat optimistic about Williams's playing time, since at this point he's more capable than J.J. Hickson or Darnell Jackson, but Leon Powe and maybe Jamario Moon are around to take most of the backup forward minutes.

Denver Nuggets

Who got cut: James White, Kurt Looby, Keith Brumbaugh, Dontaye Draper

Who got kept: Joey Graham

Massive disappointment here, although there's nothing personal against Graham. There was just so much hope that this would be White's year in Houston, then the team decided it wouldn't be, then Denver decided it wouldn't be his year for them, either. Looby getting cut isn't a huge surprise, as he's still carpaccio-raw. But, White getting the boot on top of Sonny Weems being sent away is enough to make one question Denver's commitment to ~~Sparkle Motion~~ the D-League. That would be rash, of course, and unfair to Denver who is clearly trying to win soon. Graham's per-36 numbers are almost identical to White's NBA figures, but I guess there's still too much uncertainty over what White can do when there really shouldn't be. He's headed over to Europe now, I assume, since he's said he's done with the D-League, and who can blame him. If an NBA team says they're committed to your development, then semi-promptly gets rid of you, that would be disheartening for anyone.

Detroit Pistons

Who got cut: Maceo Baston

Who got kept: No one.

Sorry, Maceo. Have fun at your House Party. (Admit it, that's not the clip you were expecting.) (Also, note to self: when you get older, shave your head but leave the sideburns and add a mustache.) But hey, here's a crazy idea; the Pistons also waived their second round pick Deron Washington, who's a 6'7" small forward. James White is a 6'7" small forward. WHAT IF THEY'RE ABOUT TO SIGN JAMES WHITE? They're probably not, but they should be. While Austin Daye looked really, really good in Summer League, and Jonas Jerebko could be pretty good, it seems a bit crazy to rely on three rookies (remember DaJuan Summers) as key bench contributors, rebuilding or no rebuilding. And while James White doesn't have that much more NBA experience, he's been around for a few years and he can contribute. Come on, Joe Dumars. LET'S DO THIS.

Indiana Pacers

Who got cut: Rod Benson, Demetris Nichols, Lawrence Roberts

Who got kept: No one.

Rod Benson is probably going back to Europe this year, even though he didn't have the best experience there last season (although being injured didn't help). I'd guess Nichols goes the same route, and both of them are good enough to play in the NBA right now. (Roberts is already over there.) As for the biggest question, whether we'll seee a return of Boom Tho-ness, I have no idea. Personally I wouldn't expect too much except maybe a continuation of his posts over at Ball Don't Lie. If this website were FreeDarko I'd probably launch into a discussion about whether this year's return to (or first crack at) seriousness for Benson and Gilbert Arenas reflects some kind of "down to business" vibe given off by the Obama Administration, but I have neither the time nor the ability to get into that right now. Or who knows, maybe Benson could write a book that would probably be better than Paul Shirley's (which I haven't read, but Benson's a better writer than Shirley so it's pretty much a lock.)

Milwaukee Bucks

Who got cut: Marcus Hubbard, Mark Tyndale, Charles Gaines, Dominic James

Who got kept: No one.

This was bound to happen eventually, but I don't really have much to say about these guys. Hubbard could do with another season or two in the D-League and work on either a.) becoming a proper interior player, or b.) shooting better than .256 on his three-pointers. Because this in-between thing isn't working. Gaines played well for Austin last season, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per 36 minutes, and shot a good percentage with Maccabi Tel Aviv. I'd like to see him in the D-League again this season, but I'm not sure he's close enough to a call-up to make it worth his time. Let's see, what else can I talk about with these guys...uh hey, I think Ersan Ilyasova can be pretty good, but that's not really under the purview of this series. Three or four players likely going over to Europe. Whee.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Who got cut: Jack McClinton, Alonzo Gee, Jared Reiner, Devin Green, Mustafa Shakur

Who got kept: Jason Hart

I don't have much to say about Jason Hart since he's 31 years old now and last played in the D-League eight years ago. This is probably a stale comment by now, and the team waived Antonio Daniels so they haven't gone completely crazy, but what's the deal with Minnesota and point guards? Who are these people? Who are the ad wizards that came up with this one? I've already written about this, but whatever NBA team ends up with McClinton (and there will be one, eventually) is going to love having him, and kick themselves for not having him earlier. Reiner got a raw deal by getting cut right before the game in his hometown, sure. But Nate Jawai is in Minnesota now, and that's something, right? It's at least as much a something as Oleksiy Pecherov being there, certainly.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Who got cut: Michael Ruffin, Tre Kelley, Mike Harris

Who got kept: Ryan Bowen

I saw Kelley play a little bit, and he looked pretty good. He's very quick, and he can get to the basket. Of course, he was being guarded by Curtis Jerrells at that point so take it with a grain of bacon salt. He's almost certainly headed to Europe. Michael Ruffin, eh. I have a sort of personal animus against him through no fault of his, since Eddie Jordan overused him when they were both with the Washington Wizards, but he's already landed on his feet overseas. The question of what Bowen can give the team at this point in his career is a good one, as he's 34 years old and has been pretty inconsistent the last few seasons. I just have to keep telling myself that the Thunder still have D.J. White and Serge Ibaka, and be content with that.

Portland Trail Blazers

Who got cut: Ime Udoka, Jarron Collins, Donell Taylor, Quinton Hosley

Who got kept: No one.

I wonder what will happen to Udoka, as he's probably still good enough to contribute at the back of someone's rotation, but he's also 32 years old and most of the teams that would be interested in him are already full up. He's a solid candidate for a mid-season replacement in case some small forward somewhere gets hurt. He can shoot the three a bit, his rebounding has improved the past few years and he doesn't turn the ball over much.

What, you want me to talk about Jarron Collins?

Utah Jazz

Who got cut: Ronald Dupree, Alexander Johnson, Paul Harris, Spencer Nelson

Who got kept: No one.

Wes Matthews and draft pick Goran Suton aren't really included in this, but in the interest of full disclosure Matthews is in and Suton is out. Suton would be a solid big man in the D-League should he decide to go that route. You're probably expecting me to express disappointment at Dupree being waived, but the fact is that he didn't play well in the preseason. At all. Well, I suppose that's not completely true as he averaged about ten points per 36 minutes, but he's capable of much more than that, and he didn't really contribute much in the way of rebounds, assists or steals. He's really only had one good game, though, against the Clippers when he shot 4-7 from the field and 3-4 from the free throw line, and in the rest he shot 5-13 overall. I'd like to see him in the D-League again this year, and maybe if he plays his normal solid, slashing game he'll restore some of his call-up-ability.

The Dream Shake's 2009-2010 Houston Rockets Preview

Tom Martin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:00:25 -0000

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Last year's record: 53-29
Playoffs: Beat Portland 4-2. Lost to Los Angeles Lakers (epically, at that) 4-3.
Key losses: Yao Ming (injury), Ron Artest, Von Wafer, Brent Barry, James White
Key additions: Trevor Ariza, David Andersen, Jermaine Taylor, Chase Budinger, Pops Mensah-Bonsu

From Lee Grammier:

1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?

Yao Ming's injury status in the offseason was not a "move" made by the Rockets but it clearly qualifies as season altering information. The original prognosis was that he'd be out until training camp, with the revised prognosis being that he will be out for the entire season. In the long run this could turn out to be best for Yao's health. He has a signed NBA contract for his services that the Chinese National government agreed to and based on some of their decision making he has rarely been able to fulfill that contract. In no way do I begrudge Yao for wanting to play in the Olympics for his country, but the other games simply have to stop.

The Trevor Ariza signing was the most significant roster move of the off-season. While I've been on record saying that Trevor Ariza wasn't someone I was interested in, that was prior to the Rockets gaining a second mid level exception. Daryl Morey has not been wrong a single time as general manager of the Houston Rockets, so while this may not be signing Joe Johnson, it was a heck of a pickup. Swapping Artest for Ariza made much more sense given the season the Rockets are going to have to endure, the generally low price tag and Ariza's age.

2. What are the team's biggest strengths?

From a position perspective the team's biggest strength is the power forward slot. Few, if any teams in the NBA can boast a 3 deep rotation of starter quality players at any position. The Rockets have Luis Scola, Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes. Each brings something different to the table with Scola being the most complete player. He is likely to be the Rockets biggest star this season. My prediction is that he will earn a spot on the All Star team this year, but won't actually get in. I also predict that he will be listed as the number one snub by every respectable writer around. If Carl Landry can continue to add some shooting touch from beyond 12 feet he will take a huge step forward in his career. At 26 years old, this is the season where he will define who he is as a player.

From a team perspective defense will keep the Rockets in games that their scoring will say they have no business being in. The carryover from the JVG years that has been the Rockets calling card could be as good as it's ever been this year. While there is no Yao Ming holding down the middle, the rest of the defense should be even better making it a wash. Every player on the team can play defense (contrary to popular belief, Scola is a solid defender) and just about everyone has speed, strength and athleticism. The key question on defense is how with David Andersen plays his part.

3. What are the team's biggest weaknesses?

The Rockets weakest position going into the season is clearly center. Losing the second best center in the league (and the best if health isn't factored in) will do that to a team. Given the Rockets inability to sign a viable back-up in the last two seasons not named Dikembe Mutombo, this was inevitable. Not, mind you, that I blame Daryl Morey, there simply are not many centers out there, and when you have the best, you just have to hope he can stay on the court. The Rockets have not been very lucky in that department. David Andersen and Chuck Hayes will likely vie for the starting position with Landry and Scola getting spot minutes and Joey Dorsey getting left-overs. Regardless, Hayes will play, but not always at center. If Andersen can put something together the Rockets can make the playoffs. Luckily for the Rockets and us as fans, the NBA simply does not have a lot of viable, true centers, so if you are going to have either a weakness or a strength, center is a great place for it.

As a team, Houston is going to struggle scoring. Morey drafted two players explicitly because of their ability to score in Chase Budinger and Jermaine Taylor. They believe Trevor Ariza can step it up, though I am more than a little skeptical about that scenario. The sooner Tracy McGrady comes back from injury, the better. Simply put, the Rockets are desperate for scoring.

In the meantime, Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks will most likely lead the team in scoring. Scola will average 18-20 points a game this season - it's a stone cold lock. He's extremely capable on the offensive end and needs to make sure he doesn't gamble as much on the defensive end. Brooks, like so many other Rockets, has to step his game up as he did at times in the playoffs last year. His size makes him somewhat of a liability on the defensive end, so he needs to use his speed to play the passing lane and create fast break points. The Rockets biggest hope for scoring is the same that will allow them to continue to be great on the defensive end; speed and athleticism. This team will run the fast break like they are the early 90s UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Defense will have to lead to offense - it's as simple as that.

4. What are the goals for this team? What will make this a successful season?

The goals for this team are very straightforward: Develop the young players, play hard every single night, and to do whatever it takes to make the playoffs. The team is not bad en ough to do any worse than the back of the lottery, so with the added revenue of a playoff team, it is a no brainer to take a shot at the playoffs. Night in and night out they will play hard, focused defense. If at any point in the season they are not hustling they will get run off the court. There is not enough scoring on this team to play anything but all out, all the time.

There are two ways to look at the Rockets series versus the Lakers in last year's playoffs:

1. The Rockets are a very good team and are capable of beating anyone on a given night, even without Yao.

2. The Rockets got lucky playing against a lackadaisical Lakers team.

Neither of them is right in full. It was really a combination of the two.

The Rockets are a very well put together team, thanks to Daryl Morey. Not one player, on down to the last guy on the bench, is a quitter. They all work hard during the game, in practice and in the weight room. Every player has at least one extreme strength and, with the exception of Chuck Hayes' offensive game, is capable of every facet of NBA level basketball. And that's not a knock on Hayes, as his defensive skills more than make up for his lack of offense. For anyone thinking this team is a 50 game winner as it stands today, I just don't have that leap of faith ability in me. They will be a good team and no one will want a game against them at any point in time this season. However, they will struggle to score and it will be very ugly at times when they do win. Typically going into a season like this most would think there wasn't a lot to look forward to, but with the Rockets that's not the case. Every game should have someone new step up - that's the great thing about having a true 12 man team.

Three underrated players/stories on this team

1. Luis Scola. He's a one improved season away from becoming one of the top power forwards in this league. It's not just about the box score with Luis - he hustles more than any player I've ever seen.

2. Rick Adelman. It's no accident that our offense often looks smoother without our stars. While it may not work as well in the late game situations, the Rockets always keep themselves in games when undermanned. This is in large part due to Adelman's ability to adapt.

3. Trevor Ariza is an upgrade over Ron Artest...for this team. Yes, we lose a terrific defender in Ron-Ron, but as far as that category goes, Ariza is not too much of a downgrade, and most importantly, his usage rates are far lower. I don't know about you, but I got tired of seeing Artest chunk up horrible shots in the playoffs and waste possessions. The Rockets should be much more efficient with Ariza in the lineup.

Predicted Record: 41-41. It could be lower, but in all honesty, could be higher as well. A good chunk of it depends on Mr. McGrady.

Tom's individual player previews after the jump...

Individual Player Links from 2008-09

From Tom Martin:

Tracy McGrady - SG #3

Strengths: It's obvious: Tracy McGrady is one hell of a basketball player when healthy. While he has lost speed and somewhat regressed athletically over the last few years, he can still drive to the rim effectively, can hit the open jumper (as difficult as he makes it look), and has a knack for hitting clutch shots, assuming he's marginally open. Tracy's most undervalued quality is his ability to pass; when he decides to play unselfishly, he can make looks that few others can. It's always been unclear as to what kind of leader Tracy is. His teammates insist that they like him, and yet, you can sense a lack of team chemistry whenever McGrady struggles. But make no mistake: a healthy McGrady is absolutely an asset.

Weaknesses: He's a nutcase and of little worth when he tries to play through nagging injuries. We saw how it affected the Rockets last year in embarrassing losses to Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto, among others. Tracy would skip the second game of each back to back, which completely threw everyone out of sync. McGrady finally elected to have surgery, and whaddayaknow - we went on a second half tear to make the playoffs quite easily. The sad part is that it's not Tracy's fault that he's constantly injured. He's been in the league for a long time now, and his body has taken a beating. His athleticism has decreased over time, and his presence on the court, at least whenever he's fighting through another injury, has proved to be a handicap.

What to expect in 2009-10: A possible return to form, or something close to it. Reports out of McGrady's rehab camp have been startlingly good. Not to say that we all thought T-Mac was finished, but apparently, his progress has been revolutionary. Nick Freidell of ESPN caught up with Tim Grover and David Reavy, who have been working with Tracy in Chicago. Needless to say, this is some excellent news:

"His whole body was imbalanced from basically his shoulder blades down to his feet," Reavy says. "He was developing a lot of back problems ... He was developing strength in an imbalanced fashion. And what I see in Tracy, in general, he had no core strength, he couldn't hold a plank."

So Reavy and Grover devised a rehab plan that would help bring it all back -- the work is already paying dividends.

"[Tracy] took a hard fall seven years ago in 2002 and he said he was never able to dunk off his left leg [since]. We got him dunking off his left leg four and a half months post micro-fracture, which is basically unheard of," Reavy says. "The results that we get here are basically unprecedented because we take the force off the injured area, we make the body absorb the force equally, so that it can heal properly and faster without the loading that it's constantly getting before."

Anyone else excited? Some media folks have been whispering that McGrady could be back in game-shape by the start of the season. While that would be great, the team doesn't want him to rush it; he won't be playing until the end of November.

Luis Scola - PF #4

Strengths: The Argentinian Slayer caught the public's eye last year with his consistently solid play, earning his hilarious, yet fitting nickname from Superman himself, Dwight Howard. In just a single season, Scola transformed from a hustle/layup machine to an imposing scorer and team MVP. His defense also improved, as evidenced by his fantastic performance against LaMarcus Aldridge in the playoff series against Portland. Scola has developed a mini-arsenal of confusing post moves and bank shots that make you scratch your head for a while. Then you notice how effective they are, and in turn become awed by the Slayer's greatness. He had an extremely productive showing at the FIBA championships for Argentina this summer, leading many to suspect that 2009-10 could be a career-best year for Luis.

Weaknesses: Scola is going to have to adjust to playing without Yao Ming in the lineup. He's going to see more double teams in the post, and when he gets beat on defense, he won't have The Great Wall to protect him. Yes, Scola has had a great offseason and is looking improve his statistics this year, but it may be difficult with all of the attention that he is going to receive from opposing defenses.

What to expect in 2009-10: Something near 18/10. Perhaps even 20/10. If the Rockets manage to shock everyone and remain in the playoff hunt, Scola's name will become even more respected. It would be well-deserved.

Trevor Ariza - G/F #1

Strengths: Air Ariza can fly like few others can. If he's got a path to the rim, look out, because his feet may clip you in the face. Not only can Trevor dunk, but he's got a nifty three-point shot too. He should thrive in the loose, up-tempo offense that the Rockets will run without Yao Ming. His defense is stellar as well, thus making the loss of Ron Artest much more bearable. And by the way, The Dream Shake is currently open to any suggestions for possible nicknames of the new Ariza/Battier defensive duo. It's not going to have the star-power that "White Pills" had, but it should be formidable nonetheless. As far as I know, Ariza's old nickname was "Cobra." I like it. Somebody make it work.

Weaknesses: Can he create his own scoring? Can he be a legitimate threat offensively without a star like Kobe Bryant commanding double-teams? Can he continue to improve like he has in past years? I'm...Ron...Burgundy?

What to expect in 2009: An increase in his offensive statistics, but only because of his surroundings. Ariza is a great fit in Houston, but he's not the explosive wing scorer that the Rockets have been lacking with Tracy McGrady's absence. Fortunately, with an offensive mastermind in Rick Adelman running the show, he shouldn't have to. What should excite Houstonians most about Ariza is that he turned down the chance to play third or fourth fiddle to LeBron in Cleveland in order to make a greater impact on a team. He's a proven winner, but in signing with the Rockets, Ariza challenged himself to become a team leader, as opposed to being just another swingman. That kind of motivation makes me giddy.

Shane Battier - G/F #31

Strengths: A vocal leader, smart defender, and effective three-point shooter, Shane gets it done on a nightly basis without making much of a scene. Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer summed up Shane's defense nicely when he named him the second best defender of the past decade:

If you watch this guy, on any given possession, you'll understand. Just take your eye off the ball and watch Battier work - the guy acts as if he's in his own reality show, as if the cameras were on him for the entire 24-second turn, even if his man never gets the ball, while appearing deathly allergic to letting people down. Battier just does everything right. It may not mean he'll get the rebound, block or steal - and his guy might still nail the shot - but I've never seen someone pitch as many perfect games defensively.

Battier causes the game's most talented players to falter. His talent does not lie in his physicality, quickness, or quick hands, but instead in his ability to force bad shots. And they aren't just guesses - they are statistically proven to be bad shots. Shane is also a man's man, a true professional. When the team is down, he doesn't panic, at least not to the public. Unlike our old nemesis Rafer Alston.

Unfortunately, Michael Lewis had to go and expose the Battman to the world, so he's no longer our little secret. But he's still really, really, ridiculously good at what he does.

Weaknesses: While his defense is always appreciated, Shane sometimes disappears offensively. It would be nice to see some better offensive production from someone who is on the floor for 35 minutes per game.

What to expect in 2009-10: A return to effective three point shooting. If it wasn't emphasized before, it will be now; Shane has got to make his threes. He did just that over the second half of last season, shooting 40% after opening the year around 36%. In a season in which the Rockets are expected to be shooting even more three pointers than in years past, Shane will be counted on to make his. It's a role that is really his primary purpose on offense, so there's no reason he shouldn't thrive.

Aaron Brooks - PG #0

Strengths: Brooks shocks you with his ability to drive, especially given how midget-ish he is. He's practically addicted to the paint, which in turn makes his three-point shot all the more lethal. If defenders start respecting his outside stroke, Brooks will have no problem throwing up a shot fake en route to becoming a dribble-driving Pinball Wizard.

While Aaron doesn't have a huge assist numbers, he is a reasonably good passer. This bodes well for newly acquired David Andersen, who will be working the pick-and-roll with Brooks whenever possible. Whether it gives Brooks more space to drive, or the Aussie more space to shoot, it's one hell of a pick and pop combination. Aaron's also quite the underrated defender. He shut down Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul last season, holding them well below their averages. And to top it all off, Brooks is able to run that funky in-bounds alley-oop play. It's an automatic 2 points in less than a second.

Weaknesses: Aaron often has trouble finishing against taller defenders. He'll work his magic every once in a while and make a crazy bank shot, but more often than not, he'll have his shot swatted away. This means that Brooks must work on improving his paint vision. Once on the drive, he'll need to be looking for open options either in the corner or on the opposite block.

Brooks also has yet to be a consistent scorer. Some outings will yield 20-30 points, and others will result in single digits. This was especially apparent in the playoffs. Brooks averaged 26.3 points per game in 3 wins against the Lakers, and averaged 11.8 points per game in four losses. Not only does Brooks' production help his own cause, but it plays a significant role in deciding the outcome of the game.

What to expect in 2009-10: Increased scoring production, which will likely lead to a higher turnover rate as well. The presumed other point guard to sport the number zero may have a better 2009-10 than the original Agent himself. In considering Brooks' potential outburst in 2009-10, I can't help but think back to that scene in Spiderman when Uncle Ben tells Peter Parker that, "With great power comes great responsibility." It's the same deal for our lovable Midget.

An explosive playoff campaign put Brooks into the national spotlight, and assured him the starting point guard spot entering this season. Now, with no T-Mac or Yao for presumably the first half of the season, Brooks will be our perimeter threat. Not Trevor Ariza. Not Shane Battier. Brooks is going to have to step up and prove that he can carry the bulk of the scoring. If not, he'll have to show that he can distribute the ball to everyone else instead. My money is on the first option.

Kyle Lowry - PG #7

Strengths: The Bulldog is your prototypical Daryl Morey point guard. Lowry is efficient, loves to get to the free throw line, and can draw a foul at will. He's also a tenacious defender who can body up the bigger point guards that often cause trouble for Aaron Brooks. His finishing ability around the rim, while not automatic, is solid, thus turning many of those fouls into three point plays. While he doesn't shoot the ball particularly well, Lowry still managed to put up a 47.5 FG% last year; in other words, he limits his shot attempts to layups or wide-open looks. If the Rockets intend to run more in 2009-10, like they say they do, Lowry will be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

Weaknesses: Yeah, Lowry knows how to limit his shot selection, but it would be nice if he could extend his range beyond the three-point line, where he has struggled mightily. Against the Los Angeles Lakers in last year's playoffs, Rick Adelman chose to leave Lowry in with Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier. When Brooks or Battier would drive to Lowry's side of the court, the defense would instantly collapse, knowing that Kyle was not a threat to catch and shoot from deep. Our offense sputtered during these periods, since the three point shot was, quite frankly, our only hope against the healthy Lakers at times. Lowry also has a knack for overloading and getting out of control. It's nice to see him draw fouls, but sometimes it's better to work the ball around the perimeter, rather than to drive like there's no tomorrow...again and again and again.

What to expect in 2009-10: Increased assists per game. Now that Lowry has had a full off-season to work with Coach Adelman, he should become more comfortable and assertive on the offensive end. Don't be too quick to confuse "assertive" with "drive-every-single-play-and-try-to-get-fouled." That's not what Adelman wants.

Rather than merely moving the ball to Ron Artest or Von Wafer, Lowry will have a chance to drive and dish in the half court and on the break, thus creating more kick-out assist opportunities, a staple of an Adelman team when in even flow. The Bulldog may not make a name for himself just yet, but he and Brooks should be one of the more competent 1-2 backcourt punches in the entire league.

Carl Landry - PF #14

Strengths: Cuddly Carl becomes a monster of a man upon entering games. His tenacity around the rim, as well as his hunger for lose balls has helped him build up a reputation of being "a guy you want to have on your team." Landry has been able to put up excellent per-minute statistics, and his ability to dunk over, around, and through defenders is well-documented. He's developed a reliable jump shot, and for the most part, he is incredibly consistent. Most impressively, Carl has never complained about his role as a bench player. Though he has been accepting of his place on the team, he'd better not get too comfortable as a mere seventh option. Not with Yao Ming on the sidelines.

Weaknesses: Up to this point in his short career, Carl has been the under-appreciated fan favorite who loves to hustle and get scrappy points. While that's fantastic and all, it's time for Carl becomes a more polished scorer. The most encouraging sign we've seen so far is his relatively new jump shot; as long as he keeps knocking those babies down, he'll be helping himself out immensely. It should draw defenders out towards him more, thus allowing him to shot fake and drive to the rim.

But is Carl consistent on the block? We don't know yet. It remains to be seen if we can toss him the ball, give him space to work, and expect production. He, like in all other areas of his game, sweats beads of potential as a low-post scorer, potential that won't be realized until he consistently performs at a high level.

What to expect in 2009-10: Increased minutes, hopefully increased statistics. There is not a shred of fairness in raising the expectations of Landry. It's nit-picky to demand improvement from a virtually unknown second-round pick who has not only struggled to find significant minutes when he wholeheartedly deserved them, but has also had to deal with the physical and mental effects of a gunshot wound stemming from an early morning incident last season. You'd think a Jazz fan would feel bad for him (well, maybe not). Despite all this, the bar has been raised for 2009-10.

It's Landry's own fault that his leash is getting shorter. If he had not been so impressive during his first two NBA seasons, we would not be having this discussion. But whenever Carl sees action, he makes an impression. Rarely will you find such a reliable big man with youth, explosiveness, and a reasonable price tag. Unfortunately, we never get to see Landry on the floor for more than five or ten minutes at a time. That should change very, very soon.

It's a case of cause and effect. Cause? Yao Ming is out for the year. Effect? Chaos ensues at the center position. While it would be nice for David Andersen to be the de facto starter, we haven't seen him against NBA competition yet, and word on the street is that he doesn't play much defense. This should mean increased minutes for both Landry and Chuck Hayes.

On top of playing an undersized center, Landry will still be called upon to spell Luis Scola at the power forward position. While Landry won't be starting, his minutes should shoot up one way or another. And let's face it: with the Rockets looking for scorers this season, Landry should be comfortably above the Chuckwagon on the depth chart.

The only major question is whether higher usage will translate to lower efficiency. Landry's PER has been among the highest in the NBA over the last two seasons, but if he suddenly sees 25 minutes per game, will he lose that efficiency? I don't think the drop off will be drastic by any means.

Chuck Hayes - PF #44

Strengths: The Chuckwagon is a wall of a defender, and it's really the only reason that he has a contract. Because of this, Hayes puts all of his practice and dedication into his defense. It's what drives him, and it's the kind of mindset that a team welcomes with open arms.

Weaknesses: All elements of offense, aside from reverse layups. I've seen the man make ten straight threes in warmups, but for some reason, his offensive brilliance does not translate well to game speed. Yet, somehow, Chuck will always end up with the ball with three seconds left on the shot clock. It shocks him as much as it shocks you and me. And we won't mention those free throws.

What to expect in 2009-10: More of the same. I can't think of anything Chuck will do differently. Maybe he'll try out one of those three pointers. Hopefully not.

David Andersen - C #13 (Rookie)

Strengths/Weaknesses: I have yet to see Big Dave play basketball, so I'll leave it to Gersson Rosas, who interviewed with Adam Wexler of Sports Radio 610 back when Andersen's rights were acquired.

"Longtime target....one of most accomplished Aussies...impressive background...won championships in Spain and Italy...wins everywhere...special talent...skilled 7 footer, can shoot, moves well, good face up game, good fit for Adelman's offense...could have been a good compliment to Yao, but now can feature him...offenisvely, no question it will be a strong translation...defensively: size, which helps, and can play in our scheme...hasn't been involved in the NBA for a long time becausehe was well-paid in Europe and really had no reason to leave...leaving money on the table to play in the NBA...time was right for him contractually and career-wise...mirrors Pau Gasol's versatily on the high post, in terms of shooting and dribbling...skilled passer on the high post...can play pick-and-pop and space the floor as a 7 footer...a little bit like Bargnani, but not quite as athletic...similar in the type of game and style...not great defensively, but Chuck's presence will help that...smart player...good team defender...physicality is an issue...studied him for past 3-4 years...big credit to Les Alexander for providing resources for the upcoming season..."

In case you didn't feel like reading that, here's my summation. Big Dave...

Can shoot well from anywhere.
Can pass and move, something Rick Adelman values in his big men.
Is a smart player and is a winner.
Is relatively cheap.
Can play team defense and help effectively.

And his cons are that he...

Isn't very physical.
Will struggle with individual post defense.
Doesn't rebound well.
Has yet to face proven NBA competition.

What to expect in 2009-10: Smooth transition to offense, struggles on defense. Just based off of Rosas' analysis, Andersen will have a tough time adjusting to the physicality of the NBA. However, the good news for the Rockets is that Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry are available to step in for defensive purposes in case Andersen falters. Eventually, it would be nice if Andersen could stay on the floor and at least become a competent defender. And even if Big Dave doesn't have a standout year, he'll always have next year, where his expectations will be lowered upon becoming Yao Ming's backup. For now, though, he'll have to amount to much, much more. In Andersen's favor is Rick Adelman, who will find ways to emphasize the stronger elements of Andersen's game.

Jermaine Taylor - SG #5 (Rookie)

Summer League Recap Notes:

I liked what I saw from Jermaine Taylor the minute he touched the ball in his first game. He possesses the ball with strength, and he attacks the basket with the determination of a scorer. From what I've heard, Taylor can shoot it well from deep. He may not have lit the nets up this week, but you can see why the Rockets spent a couple million to get him. He's got plenty of tools to succeed on both the offensive and defensive end. Unfortunately, they didn't translate to points this week, so I'll give him a B. But don't let that discourage you about the talent that Taylor has. He's got just as good of a chance to make the team as anyone else on the summer squad.

What to expect in 2009-10: Not a whole lot...yet. Now that Rashad McCants and Will Conroy have been brought in to scare the living hell out of any over-confident rookies, Taylor will have to work to make the team. Assuming he does, he'll provide good scoring off the bench in the same way that Von Wafer did last season, though with predictably lower outputs. Defensively, he still needs work, but there's no denying that he can put points on the board. His minutes will be low, so he'll have to be money when he does see the floor, but there's a lot to like about Taylor. He's one of the most NBA-ready rookies out there.

Chase Budinger - SG #10 (Rookie)

Summer League Recap Notes:

What was the most impressive aspect of Chase Budinger's Summer League performance? He improved from each game to the next. As his role on the squad became clearer, Chase adjusted swiftly and without any problems. You could tell that Bud Light was much more comfortable with the offense in Game 5 than he was in any other contest. His catch-and-shoot plays were much smoother, and he began to attack the basket with more grit than he had shown earlier in the week (if you didn't see a couple of his dunks, they were really nice).

Chase does need to work on his defense, especially against the drive, but with his athleticism and quickness, it should only be a matter of motivation and committment. That's good news for us, as Budinger, once projected to be a lottery pick, is already playing with a chip on his shoulder. If he can prove to Daryl Morey and the Rockets that he is capable of being a reliable, but not necessarily imposing defender, Budinger should have no problem finding a spot on the active roster.

What to expect in 2009-10: Plenty of jump shots. Chase is a perfect "system" player. He's big, athletic, and can shoot the ball well. If you send him through screens and get him open, he'll knock down the jumper. But Bud Light isn't quite as good on the isolation, as he has a tendency to be a bit soft on the drive. Luckily, Budinger won't be asked to do such things. He'll be fighting to see any minutes, but he picked the right year to be a Rocket - any scoring will be welcome. If he can find a niche on the team, he'll play.

Joey Dorsey - PF #15

Summer League Recap Notes:

It was the perfect week for the Kraken. The brunt of my praise doesn't pertain to the fact that he lead the Summer League in rebounds, blocked shots at will, and showed off his passing touch. Instead, I was overly impressed by how committed Dorsey was to his role on the floor. He didn't try to score against weaker competition; only when he was clearly lined up for a post move did he utilize the spin or the power dribble. Every time Dorsey caught the ball, he would hand it back off to a guard, and immediately find position down low for a rebound or entry pass. He played very maturely and very efficiently, and did what was asked of him: to rebound and play defense. The passing skills were an added bonus. Joey's performance should guarantee him a spot on the opening day roster.

What to expect in 2009-10: It's unclear how much Dorsey will play, and this is assuming he even makes the roster, something I considered to be automatic a month ago. While we'd all love to hear more of his ruminations from the bench, this is the first time that Joey has been healthy, and it would make sense for him to see the floor whenever defense, rebounding, and ferocious gorilla dunks are in high demand. However, the signing of Pops Mensah-Bonsu complicates Dorsey's situation a bit. It's unclear at this point whether or not Pops is a better fit for the Rockets than Dorsey. The former Memphis Tiger brings a tough, physical presence that the Rockets need in the paint, but Pops' athleticism may be too much to ignore. It's going to be an interesting camp battle.

Brian Cook - PF #43

Strengths: Cook's 6'10 frame has absolutely nothing to do with his strengths. He is a shooter - you might as well consider him a guard with extremely delayed reactions. Cook is also an effective contract negotiator and clusterf**k extraordinaire. He exercised his 3.5 million dollar option in the offseason, thus, for lack of a better word, screwing us.

Weaknesses: If you're lucky enough to spot Cook inside the three point line, you won't see him doing much. He'll grab a rebound if it comes to him. He'll block a shot if the ball is hanging in front of his face. Otherwise, Cook is probably one of the more useless big men in the paint.

What to expect in 2009-10: Morey should be feverishly trying to trade Cook throughout the season (consider the following Tweet to be a head start: "Cook: in good shape & shooting well"). If Brian somehow manages to stay in Houston, he'll be sitting on the bench.

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Pops Mensah-Bonsu - PF

From Adam of RaptorsHQ, SB Nation's Toronto Raptors Blog:

Pops was one of the lone bright spots for the team last year. Similar to Jamario Moon the season before, Pops quickly became a fan favourite as a player who came out of no where and provided the team with a lift where it needed it most (on the glass in this case.)

Simply put Mensah-Bonsu is an athlete. He's extremely raw still offensively (although his shot and low-post game have come a ways since his days at George Washington) but he can make plays that many other players in the league can't because of his strength and athletic ability. He's a terrific rebounder, solid shot-blocker, and great addition defensively in help situations. Individually on defense he gets a bit over-anxious at times and tends to foul, but in limited minutes off the bench that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I really wanted the Raps to hold onto Pops. He's still very young and could turn into a nice 8th or 9th man off the bench for a club. And best of all, unlike many other players in the league, Pops just simply knew his role. When he was out there, you didn't have to worry about him trying to go one-on-one or fire up jump shots unless the clock was winding down. He stuck to his rebounding and defense role, and did an excellent job in limited minutes.

What to expect in 2009-10: A fight for playing time. From what I've read and heard about Pops thus far, he sounds like a perfect fit in Houston. We like athletic guys who "know their role." Unfortunately for Pops, there are two of them who are sitting comfortably on the current depth chart in Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry. Joey Dorsey is also in the running for playing time. While Pops comes off as a fantastic addition, he may have to act like a running back and act fast when something opens up.

Romel Beck - SG

From Wayne Vore of Pounding the Rock, SB Nation's San Antonio Spurs blog:

He's a rail-thin scorer. He has good range on his shot. But he didn't strike me as a spot up shooter so much as a scorer. Meaning I got the impression that he just knows how to get the ball in the hole in a variety of ways. His shot selection was really pretty bad. Even games when he got on fire he would end up 7-15 because he would force a few really bad shots.

I don't think he can play much defense. He's very thin and didn't strike me as extremely quick. A decent handle but definitely not a point guard.

What to expect in 2009-10: After that glowing review, I'm not sure what to think of Beck. Unless Morey is desperate (and I mean really, really desperate) for scoring, I don't see Beck fitting in on our roster. I'd much rather have a big body in Pops as opposed to a scoring guard in Beck. Unless something catastrophic happens during camp, like if Taylor or Budinger were to be cast off despite holding guaranteed contracts, Beck will be playing D-League ball in 2009.

Will Conroy - PG

Summer League Recap Notes:

Will Conroy, aside from piling up a bunch of three point plays, didn't dazzle anyone in Las Vegas. To begin with, there wasn't much hype surrounding Conroy, and for good reason. He, much like our own Kyle Lowry, is hardly noticeable in the boxscore and even on the court at times. But he doesn't do anything wrong. In total, Conroy turned the ball over only six times - Jonny Flynn had seven turnovers in his first game! Conroy ran the offense well and jumped at every chance to drive at the bucket. I don't remember anyone easily beating him off the dribble, and his toughness and dedication to hard-nosed basketball surely impressed the Rockets' front office. I thought he did just enough to earn consideration for a roster spot, and while he may not find any room initially, there is a chance he could receive a call-up or two during the regular season.

What to expect in 2009-10: A call-up later this season. Conroy is certainly worth his non-guaranteed contract, but his likely position on the depth chart (third point guard) isn't going to help his case over shooting guards such as Taylor and Budinger, both of whom received guaranteed contracts. However, at some point, depending on who falls victim to injury, Conroy could see a brief call-up and get some minutes. He's done all that he can at the D-league level.

Garrett Temple - PG (Rookie)

Summer League Recap Notes:

There wasn't a whole lot to expect from Temple in the first place, but with a 6'6 point guard on the market, the Rockets decided to stick him on the SL roster. He's very athletic, very long, and can get to the basket against smaller guards. But Temple didn't look comfortable as a point guard. He only had two assists in the 62 minutes that he played this week, to go along with nine turnovers. He won't be playing for the Rockets this season - his game, at least at the point guard position, isn't ready yet. Yet, I do think he will eventually find a way into The Association. Just not sure when that's going to be.

What to expect in 2009-10: A long season in the D-League.

And there you have it. Go Rockets!!

(photographs courtesy of Yahoo! Sports, NBA.com, and Google.com)

Ridiculous Transactions: 9/21-9/27

Jon L — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:31 -0000

After playing for their Summer League team, Ron Howard is getting another look with the Knicks.

View full size photo »

There have been many more training camp invitation/signings over the last few days, but I'm going to save most of those for tomorrow. I'll also warn you in advance that I may not cover all of them, just the notable ones. But that's not what this post is about.

September 23: Houston Rockets traded James White to the Denver Nuggets for the rights to Axel Hervelle

I wrote about this (at some length) at the time, but I wanted to add that ensuing events have increased White's odds to make Denver's roster somewhat. First is the fact that Flip Murray signed with Charlotte, then the Nuggets signed Joey Graham. The combination of those moves means that Denver will definitely need bench scoring, which is something that White can provide. His contract is still unguaranteed, as far as I know, but here's hoping it works out.

September 24: San Antonio Spurs waived Jack McClinton

San Antonio's signing of Keith Bogans made McClinton expendable, if he wasn't already with Malik Hairston around. I don't know if this is officially official yet, but McClinton is reportedly about to sign with the Timberwolves, which is a good move for that team. The joke is that they've been stockpiling guards this offseason the way they used to with power forwards, but the team just waived Antonio Daniels (sorry, "came to a mutual agreement that he wouldn't play for them anymore") and Chucky Atkins, and Ricky Rubio isn't going to be in Minnesota for at least a few more years, so they're more shorthanded in the backcourt than you'd think. With the team's guards consisting of Ramon Sessions, Sasha Pavlovic, Wayne Ellington, Jonny Flynn and now McClinton, this has to be one of the youngest groups ever, right?

I'd say McClinton has a decent shot at making the roster from a pure numbers standpoint. I believe he's either the 13th or 14th guy they have (excluding Daniels and Mark Blount). He also was a very efficient scorer in college, which is always nice, and while he's not great at finishing around the rim he has a nice jumper, something that might complement Al Jefferson's game nicely. A lot of observers hailed San Antonio's pick of McClinton because he's ready to play in the NBA now, and I don't see any reason that changes because he moved to Minnesota.

September 26: New York Knicks - signed Ron Howard and Marcus Landry; Washington Wizards - signed Paul Davis and Vincent Grier.

Landy was on Sacramento's Summer League team, where he made almost 42 percent of his three-pointers and provided some occasional rebounding, and he didn't turn the ball over much, either. Howard was a very good defender in the D-League last season, though he didn't provide much consistency in the way of scoring or rebounding. He was on New York's Summer League team though he didn't always play much, so this is a nice little surprise of a signing.

September 27: Ime Udoka - signed with Portland Trail Blazers

A homecoming of sorts, as Portland was the site of Udoka's first real NBA success three years ago after he'd been hanging around the D-League and Europe since 2002. His scoring output in pretty much every category has steadily declined since then, which makes some sense since he's now 32 years old. He miiiiiiight be able to make the roster since the Blazers' other recent signing of Juwan Howard shows that they're looking to veteran it up and make a title run, but the team also already has anywhere from three to six guys who play Udoka's position.

As for the Wizards signings, Davis is eh. They could've brought better players in, but at this point the Wizards' commitment to finding young, cheap talent may be worse than Philadelphia's, and Davis is unlikely to make the team anyway. Grier has played in Europe the past few seasons, and there as in college he's been an efficient - and prolific - scorer. I'd say he'd be an intriguing bench option for them, but he also has almost no chance of making the roster.

White traded to Denver; Conroy, Temple sign

Tom Martin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:36:20 -0000

From Jonathan Feigen:

The Rockets reworked their collection of guards to compete for roster spots, sending James White to the Denver Nuggets and signing Will Conroy and Garrett Temple.

With White facing long odds to make the team, the Rockets traded White for the draft rights to Axel Hervelle, a 6-9 power forward from Belgium. Hervelle will likely remain with Real Madrid, where he is a teammate with guard Sergio Llull, a Rockets' second-round acquisition in June. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game last season, and 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 19 Euroleague games.

From Jon L of Ridiculous Upside:

You should know Conroy from the season he had with Albuquerque last year. In case you've forgotten, he led the D-League in scoring last year (unless you count Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who played in only eight games) while also averaging about eight and a half assists per 48 minutes. He also averaged four and a half turnovers pe4 48, which isn't great, but it's as good or better than several other point guards in the league, and Conroy also had the ball in his hands a lot.

Temple went undrafted out of LSU a few months ago, and he's a combo guard with decent size and athleticism and an aptitude for defense. Bringing the two of these guys is an interesting offense-defense combination, and while I'm a little skeptical that either of these guys will make the team given how many players the Rockets already have under contract, they each have something to offer the team if Houston's willing to give them an honest chance.

And there you have it. The James White Experiment has come to an end, and rightfully so. Aside from his dunk-tastic athleticism, I was skeptical that White could be of any significance to a team, given his, for lack of a better word, awkwardness when handling or shooting the ball.

If you look back to July's Summer League Recap post, I've been high on Conroy for quite some time now. He is a quick, athletic point guard with a knack for getting to the rim a-la Kyle Lowry. Given what he has accomplished throughout his D-League career, he certainly deserves a chance to compete for a roster spot. And while Jermaine Taylor and Chase Budinger seem to be obvious choices to make the team, you can never be too sure with rookies. Somehow, at some point, Conroy could become a Houston Rocket.

Looking back at that same recap, I wasn't quite as thrilled about Garrett Temple:

Temple didn't look comfortable as a point guard. He only had two assists in the 62 minutes that he played this week, to go along with nine turnovers. He won't be playing for the Rockets this season - his game, at least at the point guard position, isn't ready yet. However, I do think he will eventually find a way into The Association. Just not sure when that's going to be.

For defensive purposes, Temple is worth a look. The only problem with that is that our current point guards are quite good at defending as well. Again, I don't see a place for Temple, at least not on this roster.

I don't know anything about Axel Harvelle, though he does have a badass first name. Apparently Daryl Morey likes Real Madrid, because we've now got the rights to two of their players in Sergio Llull and Harvelle.

If anything, Morey has given the Rockets more options in the backcourt, which can't be comforting to Taylor or Budinger. They'll have to work to prove to the Rockets that their talent can carry over to the NBA.

Rockets Making Moves - Conroy Signed, White Traded

Jon L — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:32 -0000

Will Conroy signed with Houston yesterday. But that's not all the Rockets were up to.

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I know, I know, I have a specific transactions post that I do every week. But the Houston Rockets made some roster moves yesterday involving guys who have spent time in the D-League. First, they traded James White to the Denver Nuggets for the rights of Axel Hervelle. The team then signed two players who had been in workouts for them, Will Conroy and Garrett Temple. These are both pretty significant moves in RU-world, so let's talk about it in terms of what this means for each player, and for the teams involved.

What it means for Houston

It had been looking increasingly unlikely that White would make the Houston roster. He didn't have a guaranteed contract, and the Rockets signed and drafted several players who play basically the same position as White does in Trevor Ariza, Jermaine Taylor and Chase Budinger. While Ariza is a likely starter and both Budinger and Taylor those players are likely to see time in the D-League this year, and so White wouldn't really be competing with any of them for playing time as a backup, those are still roster spots. Combine that with the fact that Houston's frontcourt was already pretty crowded, and you can see how White was getting pushed out.

Hervelle, on the other hand, will be staying in Spain for at least another year, playing alongside Houston's other 2009 draftee Sergio Llull (though his team, Real Madrid, recently signed former Toronto Raptor Jorge Garbajosa ostensibly to take his job). Hervelle's actually Belgian, and he was the first (and remains the only) Belgian player drafted by an NBA team when Denver picked him in 2005. He's a combo forward who DraftExpress has compared to Reggie Evans and Eduardo Najera, so we're not talking overly skilled, here. But doesn't that sound just like the kind of forward the Rockets like? He's already 26 years old, so there's not a whole lot more developing for Hervelle to do, but the beauty of fungible frontcourt talent is that it's, well, fungible. If the Rockets decide to cycle out Brian Cook or Carl Landry and bring Hervelle in they can do so likely without a whole lot of dropoff.

Now we come to Temple and Conroy. As stacked as Houston's frontcourt is, their backcourt is about as thin. They have talented players, to be sure, it's just that in Tracy McGrady's absence there aren't a lot of them. How does Aaron Brooks/Kyle Lowry/Brent Barry/Jermaine Taylor strike you? In reality you can probably add either Ariza or Shane Battier to that rotation, since they'll be on the court together, but as I mentioned earlier, I expect Taylor to spend large chunks of the year with Rio Grande Valley, and how old is Brent Barry now, 50? (actual age: 38) So signing another pair of guards to take a shot at making the roster makes a lot more sense than bringing in, I don't know, Stromile Swift.

You should know Conroy from the season he had with Albuquerque last year. In case you've forgotten, he led the D-League in scoring last year (unless you count Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who played in only eight games) while also averaging about eight and a half assists per 48 minutes. He also averaged four and a half turnovers pe4 48, which isn't great, but it's as good or better than several other point guards in the league, and Conroy also had the ball in his hands a lot. Temple went undrafted out of LSU a few months ago, and he's a combo guard with decent size and athleticism and an aptitude for defense. Bringing the two of these guys is an interesting offense-defense combination, and while I'm a little skeptical that either of these guys will make the team given how many players the Rockets already have under contract, they each have something to offer the team if Houston's willing to give them an honest chance.

What it means for Denver

Other than Renaldo Balkman, the Nuggets didn't really have a backup for Carmelo Anthony. Anthony's going to log a lot of minutes (at least Denver hope he will), but a rest here and there is always good. There's also the matter of the team not really knowing what's going to happen with J.R. Smith. They're waiting on Flip Murray, but acquiring White ensures (assuming they pick up his contract, which I think they will because they currently have less than the minimum 13 contracts on the books, at least by my count) that they'll have some bench scoring at the swing position so that they're not just running guys like Balkman and Malik Allen out there. The team also has a growing track record of being receptive to the D-League and former D-League players

I'll take a look at what these moves mean for the individual players involved after the jump.

What it means for James White

I'm a lot more confident of White making the Nuggets roster than I was with him in Houston, for the simple fact that I mentioned above that Denver doesn't have a whole lot of guys under contract at the moment. It's possible that this is White's last, best chance to show an NBA team that there's more to his game than his "Flight" nickname and reputation as a dunker. White's contract with the Rockets was reported as a "multi-year deal" at the time, apparently Houston changed course along the way and started stockpiling swingmen and small forwards. I also seem to recall a Daryl Morey quote about how the team was committed to helping White round out his game, but I can't find it now, so maybe I just imagined it (that tends to happen with me). White really has been working on developing his shot, and he made 54.9 percent of his field goals last year with Anaheim while shooting 36.8 percent on his threes. He also improved his free-throw shooting and cut down his turnovers. Denver needs some additional bench scoring with J.R. Smith's status uncertain and their lack of better in-house options, so it's entirely possible that White will make Denver's roster and succeed. And yes, I'm consciously ignoring the fact that the Rockets apparently decided they'd rather have Brian Cook.

What it means for Axel Hervelle

Status quo, I guess. Denver didn't have the best history of bringing players to the NBA from overseas (other than Nene) even though they've drafted their fair share of them, whereas Houston pays little more attention to that kind of thing. The fact that most of Houston's forwards are fairly young doesn't help Hervelle, certainly, but he could find himself filling the "polished European player who helps a playoff team for cheap" role a year or two down the line.

What it means for Will Conroy

I think Conroy might have a tough time since Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry are both point guards, plus Brent Barry can handle the ball a little bit, but there are positive signs as well. Conroy played for Houston's Summer League team, and he did a solid job running the point for them. He then also reportedly impressed the team in the recent workouts, and so it's clear both that the Rockets have had an eye on him for awhile and that they've been liked what they've seen. I know the team played Brooks and Lowry together at times last season, and Conroy would make a good third point guard in that rotation.

What it means for Garrett Temple

I don't know a whole lot about Temple, but he has the size, athleticism and ability to be a good defensive player. He wasn't much of a scorer at LSU, but his main job was facilitating things for Marcus Thornton and a few other players and his ability to handle the ball a little bit means he also might be able to play well alongside Barry or Lowry. While Houston has a lot of players on its roster at the moment (have I mentioned that at all?) and so it'll be tough for Temple numbers-wise, but given the other players they have he'd be an interesting get for them, and from Temple's perspective (because that's what this paragraph is supposed to be) there aren't a ton of teams out there who always consider themselves in the market for a player with Temple's skill-set. If Houston doesn't work out I'd recommend giving the D-League a shot (surprise, surprise), where he could work on his shot and become a lockdown defender in the Dontell Jefferson mode in order to get some NBA attention down the line.

Expansion Draft Results & Analysis

Jon L — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:00:17 -0000

After cutting down the nets in Colorado, Billy Thomas will be playing for the Maine Red Claws this season.

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While RU had its mock draft on Tuesday, yesterday was the actual expansion draft with the Springfield Armor and Maine Red Claws picking from among the guys who finished last season with either Colorado or Anaheim, both of which are now no more (though Springfield is kinda-sorta the new Anaheim). The teams were actually drafting the D-League rights to these players, not the players themselves, so in some cases the teams were drafting guys who have already signed elsewhere, in the hopes that they're either cut by the NBA or come back from overseas during the season, in which cases the players would join whoever drafted them. A round-by-round list of the picks can be found here, but since there were only two teams drafting I'll just list the final "rosters":

Springfield	Maine
Marcus Campbell	James White
James Mays	Trey Gilder
Eddie Gill	Billy Thomas
Kentrell Gransberry	Noel Felix
Cedric Bozeman	John Lucas III
Jamar Brown	Kedrick Brown
Malick Badiane	Dominique Coleman
Marcus Taylor	Joe Dabbert
Cameron Bennerman	Josh Davis
Kirk Walters	Andre Patterson

Overall, the Red Claws bet heavily on the players I was talking about above, taking James White and Trey Gilder (who both have at least partially-guaranteed NBA contracts) with their first two picks, then followed up later in the draft by taking Dominique Coleman, who's going to play in Belgium, and Joe Dabbert, who's going to be in Korea. If these work out it was a good draft for them, but if not then they'd better hope to get some NBA assignees this season. The Red Claws also were able to pick up Josh Davis in the ninth round, though, which is crazily low, so that was definitely a good pickup.

I really like what Springfield did in the draft, taking up the best center in the draft with the first pick (Campbell*) then surrounding him guys who can score like Bozeman and Mays. They also seemed to have cornered the market on available big men. Felix and Davis are the only two players Maine has right now who can play in the middle. There really were two different philosophies at work here, with the Armor taking guys who can contribute immediately and maybe keep fans coming to games once the novelty of having a new team wears off. Both teams will be filling out their rosters with players from local tryouts, of course, but at this point Springfield seems more ready to start the season.

* Thanks to an alert reader for reminding me that it was Marcus Campbell who was drafted, not Hubbard.

But that's just one man's opinion. What do you, the viewers at home, think?

Signing A.J. Price Next Task For Pacers; T.J. Ford Dials Up Fans

Tom Lewis — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:16:00 -0000

The to do list is nearly complete for Larry Bird and David Morway.

Now that we're officially into September, it appears that the Pacers have one task remaining since the sign-and-trade deal with the Celtics never materialized. Second round pick, A.J. Price needs a contract to complete the 14 man roster the Pacers desire heading into the season.

According to Mr. Coons (question 98), the Pacers need to tender a contract offer to Price by September 6th to keep him from becoming a free agent. Now he may already have an offer and the two sides are working out the details, but if not it the offer should be on the way this week. Considering Jim O'Brien has repeatedly referred to Price as the potential steal of the draft, there's no way the team can let Price slip away without giving him a chance. Of course, as James White taught us, there's no reason to get too excited and over-commit when it isn't necessary.

Check out a few links of interest after the jump including a few reasons why teams are smart to wait on signing second round picks, along with T.J. Ford (Tweet J. Ford?) connecting with fans through his Twitter account.

Why You Wait to Sign Jon Brockman - Sactown Royalty
For anyone wondering why the Pacers have yet to sign A.J. Price, Mr. Ziller lays out a few reasons why waiting makes sense. Simply substitute A.J. Price wherever you see Jon Brockman.
T.J. Ford reached out to fans in a personal manner yesterday with a tweet soliciting phone numbers, offering to randomly call a few people who replied to his tweet with their phone number. Not only did he follow through, but he enjoyed it so much that he plans to call five more people today.
Dunleavy's return should raise expectations for Pacers
Andrew Perna wonders just how many games we should expect the Pacers to win if Mike Dunleavy is indeed available to play early in the season.
Shoals does a nice job of trying to make sense of Stephen Jackson's actions.

Wafer joins Olympiakos; Taylor among candidates to replace role

Tom Martin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:51:44 -0000

More photos » by Matt Sayles - AP

7 months ago: Los Angeles Lakers' Shannon Brown, center, Trevor Ariza, right, and Houston Rockets' Von Wafer go after a loose ball during the first half of Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoff series in Los Angeles on Monday, May 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

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As OAL pointed out last night, Von Wafer will be joining Greek club Olympiakos, reportedly for $5 million over 2 years.

From Eurobasket:

Von Wafer (196-G-85, college: Florida St.) is about to join the Greek powerhouse Olympiakos. The 24-year-old guard spent the last season in the NBA playing for the Houston Rockets. He averaged 9.5 points, 1.7 boards and 1.1 assists per game.

The Rockets weren't about to pay Wafer that kind of money and instead opted to sign a comparable talent in Jermaine Taylor to a cheaper deal. Chase Budinger and James White will also be in contention for Wafer's vacated role off the bench, assuming the latter two make the team.

Wafer's departure comes without shock or surprise, and though he performed well when called upon last season, replacing his one-dimensional game should be relatively easy. Taylor and Budinger have both shown that they can shoot the ball well from outside, and it's safe to assume that each can outperform Wafer's paltry rebound and assist numbers.

However, all quibs concerning Wafer's on-court shortcomings aside, the Von Hawk will be missed. He was a shock of lightening off the bench and was the only healthy throw-down dunk artist that the Rockets employed, as Ron Artest rarily lept more than a few inches off the ground.

He had his moments, but hopefully with his new club, as Kelly Dwyer points out in his latest BDL piece, Wafer will relax his game and lose the perfectionist attitude that wound up getting him de-benched against the Lakers.

Best of luck to him eventually finding a permanent home. And who knows - maybe he could return in a few years?